Health Depression

[Primetime Pricey]

Have any of you had success with antidepressants ?

I tried a couple but both times I had allergic reactions so I'm just dealing with it without medication which probably isn't smart but can't handle the reactions

 

[Run n Spread]

Have any of you had success with antidepressants ?

Yep alcohol.

 

[Run n Spread]

After the news coming out on Harry O's personal problems, the thread on the main board is making me absolutely sick.

Goes to show that there still is a long way to go with raising awareness about depression.

Don't know about that. Awareness is pretty widespread. People will react how they react and you can't always guarantee a positive response. Hence the constant message to talk about it isn't always best.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Don't know about that. Awareness is pretty widespread. People will react how they react and you can't always guarantee a positive response. Hence the constant message to talk about it isn't always best.

That's true, with some people I guess it is a lost cause.

But I think there are a lot of people out there, and I'm putting it down to a lack of education or personal experience, that have the misconception of mistaking depression and just feeling down.

Actually, even if educated, you really won't ever understand the effects of depression until you have it yourself or you're heavily involved with someone who does have it. Both unfortunate situations.

In the end, you just have to have a respect for it I guess, I have told a few friends who, although not having much personal experience with it, still respected it and didn't mistake it with me just "having a bad day".

I'm a big believer in not hiding away your depression, it's not for everyone I understand that. But the fact is that 50% of Australian's will experience it sometime in their life and I do hope to be a big part in people's journey in overcoming the hurdle.

 

[Run n Spread]

That's true, with some people I guess it is a lost cause.

But I think there are a lot of people out there, and I'm putting it down to a lack of education or personal experience, that have the misconception of mistaking depression and just feeling down.

Actually, even if educated, you really won't ever understand the effects of depression until you have it yourself or you're heavily involved with someone who does have it. Both unfortunate situations.

In the end, you just have to have a respect for it I guess, I have told a few friends who, although not having much personal experience with it, still respected it and didn't mistake it with me just "having a bad day".

I'm a big believer in not hiding away your depression, it's not for everyone I understand that. But the fact is that 50% of Australian's will experience it sometime in their life and I do hope to be a big part in people's journey in overcoming the hurdle.

I can see where you are coming from but would take the opposite track. It can in a lot of cases be a lifelong problem, mental illness plays a role and there can be some heavy duty shit that goes down when people simply can't cope. Most people are uncomfortable talking or dealing with it, particularly amoung people they know and/or are close to. Thus they can react badly. And in a sense a stress is placed on them as well. Others may not want to believe/get side tracked etc. Really needs to be dealt with by professionals. Yet there are not a lot of them around. GPs yes but a lot of people are not taken seriously nor do they have the right temperament.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

Have any of you had success with antidepressants ?

I have with 25mg of endep. Took its time but was successful

 

[TheFreshBanana]

I can see where you are coming from but would take the opposite track. It can in a lot of cases be a lifelong problem, mental illness plays a role and there can be some heavy duty shit that goes down when people simply can't cope. Most people are uncomfortable talking or dealing with it, particularly amoung people they know and/or are close to. Thus they can react badly. And in a sense a stress is placed on them as well. Others may not want to believe/get side tracked etc. Really needs to be dealt with by professionals. Yet there are not a lot of them around. GPs yes but a lot of people are not taken seriously nor do they have the right temperament.

Most of the time, people just need an ear to borrow and offload some of the stuff that is weighing them down.

The problems with dealing with professionals, is that they are not conveniently accessible, most of the time you're going through something but have to wait for your appointment.

Most people are uncomfortable talking or dealing with it, particularly amoung people they know and/or are close to. Thus they can react badly. And in a sense a stress is placed on them as well.

I'm assuming we're talking in the context of the person who is not the one suffering the depression, and I agree with you.

Some people can't handle it and I completely understand that. But for me, someone who's been on the other side, I have no problem with lending an ear which makes it important for me to make that known.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

But I think there are a lot of people out there, and I'm putting it down to a lack of education or personal experience, that have the misconception of mistaking depression and just feeling down.

I agree there, just like a lot of people don't understand the difference between "drinking too much" and "alcoholism".
I don't really comprehend the differences in either case, but recognise that there is a pretty significant one when things get to the point where they can control your life.

 

[brett15]

Depression and anxiety is a tricky "illness" but its not permanent, and neither are any of the extreme psychotic ailments.

Depression and anxiety is simply all about your mindset and body chemistry

The recovery from either is simple

Develop your rational mind (cognitive therapy or cbt, hypnotherapy)
Develop your emotional mind (mindfulness, art/music therapy)
Develop your wise mind (dialectical behavioral therapy or dbt)

Take any recommended presciptions from your psychiatrist and look into the therapy items I've listed above, these have been massive in my recovery.

However the biggest improvement for me was simply looking at my diet and nutritional deficiencies! I recomend checking out the paleo diet, but in a nut shell, you want HEAPS of Vitamin B2 (niacin), Vitamin C and plentiful amounts of Vitamin D and E.

By the way, you actually do need cholesterol in your system, at low levels you won't absorb enough Vitamin D from the sun, and this alone can cause depression (as was in my case). White pasty skin may mean you need to get into the sun more. Just simply get sun on your chest and back for 15 minutes each day around midday when the sun is peaking.

Drink lots of water, and counter any sugary acid based softdrinks or fruit juices with an alkaline sodium opposite (like milk, mineral water, alkaline salts or lemon) to bring your fluids levels to PH neutral or Isotonic... this will greatly reduce headaches and migraines


If there's anything else I can help with just ask. I've gone from healthy, to hell and back, to losing my girlfriend (RIP), to coming out the other side (finally!!) to feeling the best I ever have in 21 months

 

[Run n Spread]

Depression and anxiety is a tricky "illness" but its not permanent, and neither are any of the extreme psychotic ailments.

Depression and anxiety is simply all about your mindset and body chemistry

The recovery from either is simple

Develop your rational mind (cognitive therapy or cbt, hypnotherapy)
Develop your emotional mind (mindfulness, art/music therapy)
Develop your wise mind (dialectical behavioral therapy or dbt)


By the way, you actually do need cholesterol in your system, at low levels you won't absorb enough Vitamin D from the sun, and this alone can cause depression (as was in my case). White pasty skin may mean you need to get into the sun more. Just simply get sun on your chest and back for 15 minutes each day around midday when the sun is peaking.

Drink lots of water, and counter any sugary acid based softdrinks or fruit juices with an alkaline sodium opposite (like milk, mineral water, alkaline salts or lemon) to bring your fluids levels to PH neutral or Isotonic... this will greatly reduce headaches and migraines


If there's anything else I can help with just ask. I've gone from healthy, to hell and back, to losing my girlfriend (RIP), to coming out the other side (finally!!) to feeling the best I ever have in 21 months

Can be mindset, circumstance, body chemistry, perception and situational. Not always one or the other.

No quite often it isn't easy to manage. People can be in either bad circumstances, lack the resources to deal with their condition or basically lose hope all together. I don't think at certain points it is easy to come back from at all. If you classify this under mental health going haywire, just like physical health it can be very difficult to get back right.

Those 3 techniques can help yes but it often will not be enough. An entire change of circumstance, lifestyle or mindset may be needed and a lot of the times this is simply impossible. People just have to cope a lot of the time.


The cholesterol and sugar theories can easily be debunked depending on who you read/source. A hell of a lot of nutritional science is inconclusive/not yet understood/not agreed on/anecdotal guess work.

 

[Thurlow2Mackie]

After the news coming out on Harry O's personal problems, the thread on the main board is making me absolutely sick.

Goes to show that there still is a long way to go with raising awareness about depression.

Harry O is a hero of mine. The way people joke about him is disgusting.

 

[brett15]

Can be mindset, circumstance, body chemistry, perception and situational. Not always one or the other.

No quite often it isn't easy to manage. People can be in either bad circumstances, lack the resources to deal with their condition or basically lose hope all together. I don't think at certain points it is easy to come back from at all. If you classify this under mental health going haywire, just like physical health it can be very difficult to get back right.

Those 3 techniques can help yes but it often will not be enough. An entire change of circumstance, lifestyle or mindset may be needed and a lot of the times this is simply impossible. People just have to cope a lot of the time.


The cholesterol and sugar theories can easily be debunked depending on who you read/source. A hell of a lot of nutritional science is inconclusive/not yet understood/not agreed on/anecdotal guess work.

Mate, in the last year and a half I went from depression, to major anxiety, to smoking, to binge drinking, to wanting to top myself, to hospitalization, to medication, to discharge and quitting smoking, to returning to work, to getting depressed/anxious again, cutting myself and drinking/smoking, to readmission for fear of another topping myself attempt, to meeting my girlfriend, to getting better because of her, to losing my girlfriend to death, back to wanting to top myself, back to hospitalisation, onto narcotics, onto everything almost bad under the sun, to private hospitlisation, to proper cbt, dbt, creative art therapy (see above) & diet nuitrition, to post traumatic stress, to leaving hospital and now returning to work for the first time in 15 months.

Now this isn't competition to see who has had the worst deck of cards, my situation is mine only, but its been bloody rough and those "3 techniques" saved my ass and got me back to where I am now.

CBT Therapy = Mastery of thoughts and recognition of limiting beliefs, hypnotherapy is awesome IMO

Mindfulness and Creative Arts Therapy = Emotion regulation and mastery of how to handle bad/difficult/troubling situations, it also delves into art of all forms such as music, drawing, painting, digital graphics, digital media, poetry, puzzles, games, acting, role playing, dancing, martial arts and so much more.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy = Mastery of both CBT and Creative Art Therapy, which brings forward a wise mind and the ability to soundly judge and assess the environment, without bias, and decide the best path forward.

I also respectfully disagree, it can be everything including "mindset, circumstance, body chemistry, perception and situational" all at once, piled up on top of one another, compounding depression and exacerbating anxiety.

The cholesterol/sugar theory is one I present from my own experience and advice provided by a GP speciliasing in diet and nutrition. My experience so far is his knowledge and recommendations are bang for their buck.



cheers tho, you bring up good discussion and raise issues confronting everyday people.

 

[nicky]

Brett it's great to hear you're doing much better. I also applaud that you're examining your diet as contributor to your depression. The 2 go hand in hand imo.

 

[brett15]

Brett it's great to hear you're doing much better. I also applaud that you're examining your diet as contributor to your depression. The 2 go hand in hand imo.

they do nicky, a lot of what one obtains in life, whether depression or another illness, can also be found in some of the food they eat.

healthy people aren't just lucky, they just have the smarts to know what food and other damaging lifestyles can do to their health, and most importantly they know how to avoid it.

you have some good insight btw

ps. my nan also passed away this morn

 

[nicky]

Sorry to hear about your nan.

 

[benchwarmer5]

Is apathy the same as depression to you guys ?

 

[Coolangatta]

I don't care if it is or not.

 

[Run n Spread]

Is apathy the same as depression to you guys ?

No something very different. Or it may be a symptom of depression but just feeling apathetic in general is not necessarily the same thing if you recognise it for what it is and it holds no long term concerns.

 

[brett15]

Apathy is a feeling of disconnection, which can be a feeling of numbness and not caring about anything, as well as a lack of interest, passion and motivation.

So yes Apathy is a form of depression, but it can also be a symptom of grief.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Right now I am seeing a therapist regarding a weird anxiety (has some link to claustrophobia) I have which goes back to my childhood (since 4 years old). Done 2 hours of explains some history but have to do exposure therapy which was something I am not keen on. I could take medication but I would really rather not, and there is hypnotherapy which is something I can try. I won't go in depth for now but I hope it can cure the involuntary anxiety, my mind isn't strong enough for positive thoughts to take over. Right now it seems it would be a miracle if 90% of this anxiety was cured, I just cant see it.

Thought I would say this too. Been super stressed last few hours, my cat has not been able to pee (that I have seen) in a few days and just realized it today. Rang the 24hr vet and said bring him in ASAP as in right now, too bad I am still on my learners living with my parents. Have to wait til the morning, I am just praying to god that he will be okay. I cannot sleep so I am just watching the Ashes. Not to mention I ate some chilli shit before so my stomach feels really uncomfortable. Just a shambles on top of other shit like school which I couldn't give a **** about right now. Going to be a long night, filling in time is not easy...

 

[Hand]

Right now I am seeing a therapist regarding a weird anxiety (has some link to claustrophobia) I have which goes back to my childhood (since 4 years old). Done 2 hours of explains some history but have to do exposure therapy which was something I am not keen on. I could take medication but I would really rather not, and there is hypnotherapy which is something I can try. I won't go in depth for now but I hope it can cure the involuntary anxiety, my mind isn't strong enough for positive thoughts to take over. Right now it seems it would be a miracle if 90% of this anxiety was cured, I just cant see it.

Thought I would say this too. Been super stressed last few hours, my cat has not been able to pee (that I have seen) in a few days and just realized it today. Rang the 24hr vet and said bring him in ASAP as in right now, too bad I am still on my learners living with my parents. Have to wait til the morning, I am just praying to god that he will be okay. I cannot sleep so I am just watching the Ashes. Not to mention I ate some chilli shit before so my stomach feels really uncomfortable. Just a shambles on top of other shit like school which I couldn't give a **** about right now. Going to be a long night, filling in time is not easy...

I have a major anxiety disorder. Plays havoc with my everyday life. I'm constantly feeling uneasy, worrying about the smallest things, it isn't easy. Just know this mate; you're not alone. I'm regularly up at night, unable to sleep, overanalysing everything in my head.

Your cat probably has some sort of blockage. I hope he can hang on till the morning. Drink some soda to help with the stomach. Forget about school for the minute, you'll be able to catch up easily once this predicament is sorted. Everything will be fine, mate. Just try and put your mind off it.

 

[brett15]

Anxiety normally represents an underlying form of depression. It was explained to me in therapy that anxiety is a self defense mechanism that kicks in to keep one safe (sounds weird right?) and indicates lifestyle changes are needed.

From my experience once the depression is tackled the anxiety tends to subside, but often that makes it kind of tricky to identify the root cause of the depression, because the anxiety clouds immediate emotion distorting a person's perception of what is really troubling them.

Without asking for too much detail, it would be also worth ascertaining (for yourself - no need to go into full explanation on a forum) if the depression/anxiety is a chemical imbalance or one of a cognitive nature. My guess in most situations is it's a combination of both.

Learn not to fear anxiety, and see it as a sign that if lifestyle changes are implemented; gradually and under professional guidance, that it's a stepping stone for maturing and improving oneself.

Hope that helps

p.s I'm hoping to study soon to become a youth social worker, I've realised life is too precious to be dwelling on the mishaps and misfortunes of everyday life, and the time remaining is best lived through happiness with a love of all things fun and important.

Quote time: Those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter
(sorry can't remember the source but that one isn't mind)

 

[Jcpdragonx]

I think I just suffer from anxiety, I don't think I suffer from depression, or maybe I am not aware of the full definition of it. If I do then it wouldnt be significant, I learnt to not worry about the future, however it can play on my mind If I am not occupied.

Not actually aware of the chemical imbalance thing but I assume I was born with this. Hopefully I find out.

Thanks for the reply, you make some points which make a lot of sense.

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

Right now I am seeing a therapist regarding a weird anxiety (has some link to claustrophobia) I have which goes back to my childhood (since 4 years old). Done 2 hours of explains some history but have to do exposure therapy which was something I am not keen on. I could take medication but I would really rather not, and there is hypnotherapy which is something I can try. I won't go in depth for now but I hope it can cure the involuntary anxiety, my mind isn't strong enough for positive thoughts to take over. Right now it seems it would be a miracle if 90% of this anxiety was cured, I just cant see it.

Thought I would say this too. Been super stressed last few hours, my cat has not been able to pee (that I have seen) in a few days and just realized it today. Rang the 24hr vet and said bring him in ASAP as in right now, too bad I am still on my learners living with my parents. Have to wait til the morning, I am just praying to god that he will be okay. I cannot sleep so I am just watching the Ashes. Not to mention I ate some chilli shit before so my stomach feels really uncomfortable. Just a shambles on top of other shit like school which I couldn't give a **** about right now. Going to be a long night, filling in time is not easy...

As difficult as this is, it is very successful (particularly if you have avoidant/safety behaviours)

 

[nicky]

Anxiety normally represents an underlying form of depression. It was explained to me in therapy that anxiety is a self defense mechanism that kicks in to keep one safe (sounds weird right?) and indicates lifestyle changes are needed.

I completely disagree. I think someone can get anxiety without suffering from depression. I don't have depression but get extreme anxiety with anything to do with speaking in public. I need to take a xanax before i'm required to speak in public otherwise my voice sounds like i'm about to cry. I've tried all manner of mindfulness and breathing exercises but they are unable to control this anxiety so i take medication for it.

I also think that it's common for people to suffer from atleast a mild form of anxiety in social situations (which is probably why so many gatherings are centred around alcohol).